Can selecting and weighing apparatus



G. J. KOEHL CAN SELECTING AND WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11, 19I8.

PatentedJune 15, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- INVENTOR.

62036300151716 BY ZQRQm WMA A TTORNEY G. J. KOEHL.

CAN SELE CTING AND WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. H, 1918.

1,343,458. Patented June 15, 1920, I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JNVENTOR. 6zma'Jfim A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIQE.

GEORGE J. KOEHL, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO NEPTUNE SEA FOOD COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CAN SELECTING AND WEIGI-IING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. KoEHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Se- .lecting and Weighing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. 7 My invention relates to an apparatus for selecting miscellaneous articles of different weight into groups of the same weight more particularly adapted for use for selecting different weight cans of fish such as sardines and the objects of my invention are first, to provide an apparatus of this class which selects and distributes cans of fish of several different weights and conveys them into separate groups or receptacles, second, to provide an apparatus of this class which is positivecin its action and adjustable throughout, third, to provide an apparatus'of this class in which a plurality of balancing devices are used in consecutive order in connection with a conveyer said balancing devices being adjustable for different weights, fourth, to provide a conveyer to be used in connection with said balancing devices that stops the can in a certain position on the balancing device each'time, fifth to provide an apparatus of this class with means for preventing breakage and provides. for continuing operation in case a can is lodged in one of the balancing devices, and sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is simple and economical of construction, durable, automatic in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which: Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my device showing two units and showing the conveyers fragmentarily; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the balancing devices in position on a fragmentary portion of its supporting member; Fig. 4 is a front Specification of Letters Patent. P t tcd J une 15, 1920. Application filed December 11, 1918. Serial No. 266,354.

elevational View of the apparatus; Fig. '5 is an enlarged sectional view through 55 of Fig. 4; Fig." 6 is an enlarged sectional v1ew through 66 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is anenlarged sectional view through 7 7 of Flg. 4; Fig. 8 is a sectional view through 88 of Flg. 7 Fig. 9 is a sectional view through 9-9 of Fig. 8.; Fig. 10 is an enlarged front view of a fragmentary portion of the conveyer operating mechanism; Fig. 11 1s a plan view of balancing device platforms in connection with a fragmentary portion of its support; Fig. 12 is a sectional v1ew through 12-12 of Fig. lland Fig. 13 is a similar view with the platform dropped at its free side. 1

S imilar characters of reference refer to s1m1lar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings. i It will be noted that I have illustrated. two working units of my apparatus which are adapted to cooperate for increasing the output and that a large number of these units may be added with the same drivingmechanism. I will, however, describe only one of said units.

The front support 1, rear support 2, front cross support 3, rear cross support'4, tie

members 5, 'conveyers 6, balancing devices 7 conveyers 8, conveyer support 9, sprockets 10, 11, 12 and 13, balancing device replacing rod 14, rod 15, cam 16, gear 17, pinion 18, shaft 19, shaft 20, cam 21, stop cam collar 22, link member 23,*cam wheel support 24, and support member 25 c'on-- stitute the principal parts of the one unit of my selecting apparatus. I i

The supports 1 and 2 are bracket sup ports, which extend to the floor and' form a base support for the apparatus. Mounted on the top of the support 1 is the cross support 3 and mounted on the top ofthe support 2 is the cross support'4 and they are tied together by 'a longitudinal bar 5. Mounted on the top of these supports 3 and 4 and extending from one to the other is acan conductor 9 which is shaped as shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings proy A vided with upwardly extending flange memin this case I have shown three which are adapted for the balancing device platform 7 "to fit therein. This balancing device platform 7 is hinged to its support 9 by means of hinges 9 as shown best in-Fig.--3 of the drawing. Mounted-on the bottom of this plate 7 is a lug 7 and mounted on opposite sides of the platform 7 and secured to the member 9 are the supports 7 on the outwardly extending ends of which is pivotally mounted a bar7 upon which is secured a lever7 the-one end of which is pivoted on the lug 7 and its opposite end is threaded and upon which is screwed a counter balance weight 7*. Also mounted on this bar 7 is an arm 7 which extends downwardly and is adapted to be engaged by a pin 14 whichis reciprocally mounted in a lug 1'4 secured to the rod 14. This pin 14 is provided witha spring 14 adapted'to permit the rod 14to move longitudinally without affectingthe balancing device providing something is'caught in said b'alancing device the spring 14 being compressed in such action. This rod 14 is moved endwise by means of the cam 16engaging the rod 15 and said rod 15 is' connected tov the rod 14 by means of a connecting member 15*. This 'rod 14 is provided with a compression spring 14 .one end of whichengages a pin 14 in said rod and the other end engages the cross support "4 thus'tending to hold the rod 14 towa'rd' the front end ofthe apparatus and the'rod 15in engagement with the cam 16.

It will be here noted that thisrod 14 is for the purpose ofthrusting the balancing device platform 7 back in horizontal position after it has been depressed by the weight of the can passing through the balancing device. It will also be here noted that the weight '7 may'beadjustedon the lever 7 to provide for the different weight cans so that ifthe can is lighter than the first balancing device is adjusted for'it passes to the second or third one thus selecting the cans which pass through and onto its particular conveyer 6 in'accord'ance with its weight. The conveyer 8 consistsof a p'airof chains which are mounted'on the sprockets '10, 11, 1-2Q'and 18 and connecting" these two chains are a plurality of barsfS which are of the proper height to engage the cans and 'move them along and these conveyers are operated by the sprockets 11 which are secured on the shaft 19. This shaft 19 is actuated by the shaft 20 Which' is the main driving shaft, through the gear 17 and pinion 18 This gear 17 is provided with a blank space where there are no teeth s'o that the shaft 19 stops during'a portion of the revolution'of thegear 17 and starts again when the gear 17 again'engages the pinion 18. "In order to providea positive position for the stop of the conveyer '8 there is'provided'a cam 21 on vided a spring'23 on the lower end of said link member. The'oneend of said spring engages a washer-23 which is held on said link member by'means of a pin and the other end of said spring engages the lower end of the member 24 thus -providing a tension link member actuated by the cam 21 and supported on the shafts 19and20 by elongated'holes in-saidli-nk member. The'member 24 is reciprocally mounted in an eye bolt 25 secured in the support end "of this link member and extending to one sideis'a lu-g '23 whichis provided with-a wedge shaped lower surface which is adapt-H ed to engageaslot=22 'inflthe-meinber 22 for stopping said shaft 19in a certain position with eachrevolution of thesh'a'ft 20, thus intermittently operating the conveyer-chain as predetermined. i

' sec'ured to the inember'S) adjacent the free end of the balancing device platform 7 'isa chute 9 adapted'toguide the cans from the platform 7 'to its particular conveyer 6 after which it is conveyed to "the-place desired.

On'the top ofthe platform 7are'a pair of ridges 7 each'o-f which is provided with a reciprocating bar 7'ff therein the one end of which is adapted "to "engage the support '9 when the platform 7 is upina horizontal position as shown in Fig. 12'and'to be thrust outwardly by means of a' spring 7 engaging its opposite end whenthe platform 7 is dc pressed by thew'eight ofthe can. This member 7" is provided with beveled portion 7 in which is mounted fa -ball which rests in'a slight recess'c'ausedjby said'b eveied portion so that its uppersurface'is'flush withthe upper surface of the ridge 7 wh n I the member 7 is'out o'f the horizontal positionbut the uppersu'rface of said ball is raised above the upper surface of said ridge when said'bar is up in horizontal position-thus forming a positive stop for the can, all "as shown best in Figs. 11,12,-'and '13. Y c f The rearend of the can conductor 9? is separab'le' and held in positionby the bolts 9? to provide adjustment 'andto take'u the wear in the chains. 7 g 7 Though Iha've'shownand described a particular construction, combination and arrangement o'f pa'rts and portions I donot wish 'to be lihiit'edto this particular construction, combination 'anda rrangein'ent but desireto include in f-the pu'rviewof my inven tion the construction combination "and "arrangement substantially a s-set forth in the ap ended'claims.

t is obvioiisfthat with this construction Mounted onfth'e upper tus operates automatically, that there is provided means for delicate adjustment and positive positioning ofthe cans in their proper relations on each balancing device platform, that thereis provided means for stopping the canconveyer in a certain position relative to the balancing device and that the device throughout is positive though flexible enough to prevent breakage or in ury.

J Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row, a conveyer positioned and arranged to operate over said row of balancing devices, means for intermittently operating said conveyer and other means in connection with said conveyer for positively stopping said conveyer at a certain position relatively to said balancing devices.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row, a conveyer positioned and arranged to operate over said row of balancing devices, means for intermittently operating said conveyer, and cam means in connection with said last mentioned means for stopping and positioning said conveyer at a certain predetermined position relatively to said balancing devices.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row, a conveyer positioned and arranged to operate over said row of balancing devices, means for intermittently operating said conveyer, and means positioned on each of said balancing devices for stopping the article to be weighed in a certain position on said balancin device.

4. I n an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row, a conveyer positioned and arranged to operate over said row of balancing devices, means for intermittently operating said conveyer, means in connection with said last mentioned means for stopping said conveyer at a certain predetermined position relatively to said balancing devices, and means in connection with each of said balancing devices for stopping the article to be weighed in a certain position on said balancing device.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, a can conveyer operatively mounted on said supporting frame, means for intermittently operating said can conveyer, a plurality of hinged platforms in certain spaced relation under said conveyer, a lever pivotally connected to each of said platforms, a fulcrum for said lever, a counter balance adjustably mounted on the oppomeans for intermittently operating said can conveyer, a-pluralityof hinged platforms in certain spaced relation under said conveyer, a lever pivotally connected to each of said platforms,a fulcrum for said lever, a counterbalance adjustably mounted on the opposite end of said lever, means actuated simultaneously with said conveyer engaging said fulcrum member for positioning said plate in a horizontal plane with said support, and means for stopping said conveyer at a certain pre-determined point relatively to said hinged platform.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, an endless chain con veyer arranged in operative relation over said supporting frame, a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row below a portion of said conveyer, means for adjusting said balancing devices whereby the various weights of articles stopped on said 'balancing devices will depress the same and the article pass through the supporting frame, a cam actuated means forvre-positioning said balancing devices and means for intermittently operating said conveyer.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, an endless chain conveyer arranged in operative relation over said supporting frame, a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row below a portion of said conveyer, means for adjusting said balancing devices whereby the varying weights of articles stopped. on said balancing devices will depress the same and the article pass through the supporting frame,'a cam actuated means for re-positioning said balancing devices, means for intermittently operating said conveyer com prising a driving shaft, a driven shaft par allel therewith, a partially blank gear secured on said driven shaft, a pinion meshing therewith on a said driven shaft and means on said driven shaft for engaging and operating said conveyer.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, an endless chain conveyer arranged in operative relation over said supporting frame, a plurality of balancing devices arranged in a row below a portion of said conveyer, means for adjusting said balancingdevices whereby the varying weights of articles stopped on said balancing devices will depress the same and the article pass through the supporting frame, a cam actuated means for repositioning-said balancing devices; means for intermittent-1y operating said conVeyerQComprisin a driving-Shaina driven shaft par-- -"a11e1 erlewith, a partially blank gear :86-

c'ured on said driven shaft, a pinionineshing therewith on said driven shaft, means on said 'dri'ven shaft for engaging said conveyer, means for stopping said conveyerat a 10 certain relative position to said balancing .dev1fces comprising a cam 011684161 driven shaft, a link member operated by said can),

with itsone end siipported by-said driven ,shaft provided with, a Wedge shaped lug 'a'rlj'acent ,said driven shaft-extending parallel therewith-sandal collar cam-secured tosaid shaft with a -:V' shapedfnotohthereinadapted 'to be engaged vby said In whereby said driven shaft is ,revohibly s i-fted to a eertain position. 

